Influence of environmental and anthropogenic acoustic cues in sea-finding of hatchling leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles.

ABSTRACT: Although the visual and geomagnetic orientation cues used by sea turtle hatchlings during sea-finding have been well studied, the potential for auditory stimuli to act as an orientation cue has not been explored. We investigated the response of sea turtle hatchlings to natural and anthropogenic noises present on their nesting beaches during sea-finding. The responses of hatchling leatherback sea turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, collected from the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix, were measured in the presence of aerial acoustic sounds within hatchlings' hearing range of 50 to 1600 Hz. The highest sound energy produced by beach waves occurs at frequencies 50-1000 Hz, which overlaps with the most sensitive hearing range of hatchling leatherbacks (50-400 Hz). Natural beach wave s

SUBMITTER: Holtz B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8248618 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature